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Enjoying Your Chinese Spring Festival in Beijing

2007/02/06
text by Winnie Li, picture by Zhou Bin

Whether you spend your Spring Festival holiday travelling around China or remain in Beijing, the Spring Festival is a fascinating time, but China’s capital city has charms of its own.

Still, Beijing is a big place, and if you are a new foreign resident or simply in town for a few days, you may wonder where you should go to experience the best that the city has to offer. Here are some suggestions that may allow you to enjoy a most authentic and sumptuous Chinese Spring Festival in the capital.

In 2007, the Spring Festival falls on February 18. The country’s working people will have eight days off beginning on Spring Festival Eve (chuxi) on February 17 and will return to their work on February 25. Students will get longer holidays, but the traditional festival does not officially end until March 4, the 15th day of the traditional lunar New Year.

Before the festival’s opening, visitors can expect to see many of Beijing’s residents, drawn from around the country, flooding into bus and train stations and air terminals on their ways home. Local residents will be seen busily making preparations for the festival, in Chinese called ban nianhuo. The festive atmosphere is similar to that of Christmas. However, the things needed to celebrate the Spring Festival are somewhat different, such as pictures of door guards, couplets, and red envelops to hold money as gifts and fireworks for fun.

“Spending the Spring Festival” in Chinese is called guo chunjie. Big family gatherings, visiting temple fairs, setting off firecrackers, and watching festive films and TV programmes are always on the festival agenda for locals.

Ban nianhuo (Shopping for the Spring Festival) 办年货

• Many families now choose to dine out on New Year Eve; so reservations are a must, but most will feast at home. Fish and baijiu (liquor) are found on any proper menu, because fish symbolizes surplus in New Year. Baijiu is the most frequently consumed alcoholic beverage during festivals, but neither will there be a shortage of beer and non-alcoholic beverages. Table settings will also include snacks such as nuts and candies. Local community markets and supermarkets are the best places to fill your basket. Prices may be somewhat higher than usual; so some bargaining may be necessary to get the best deal.

• Putting on new clothes on the first day of the New Year was once the most exciting moment for children in China. Although the situation has changed with the country’s new affluence, people are used to buy new clothes for children or for themselves as a reward for a whole year’s hard work. Currently traditional Chinese-style clothes are increasingly popular. Quality products can be found at the stores of Mu Zhen Liao, Ge Ge, Ruifuxiang and Shanghai Tang. For less expensive togs, head to Silk Street or the Hongqiao Pearl Market. For tailored clothing, see the Yashow Market.

• Couplets and pictures of door guards are essential home adornments during the Spring Festival. Couplets are either bought at markets or written by neighbours good at calligraphy. They are symmetrical in format and express good wishes for the next year. Many Chinese like to buy toys and other decorations in shengxiao (the 12 symbolic animals associated with the 12 Earthly Branches that form a 12-year cycle). The Hongqiao Pearl Market and Guanyuan Market near Xizhimen are suitable places to get these adornments.

• Do’t forget to buy red envelopes (hongbao) to hold money! It is a custom in China for the elderly to give money to their younger family members during the Spring Festival.

Guo chunjie (Spend the Spring Festival) 过春节

• Do remember to book tables in advance during this special period of time, and the earlier the better. Time-honoured Chinese restaurants such as Quanjude and Hongbinlou, and restaurants in star hotels are all hot places. The prices are a bit higher than usual, with auspicious numbers such as “6” and “8” included, such as one meal advertised at 1,288 yuan (US$161) for ten people. Jiaozi (dumplings) and yuanxiao (sweet glutinous rice balls eaten on the Lantern Festival) must be tasted during the first 15 days of the New Year.

• Visiting temple fairs has been a tradition in China for centuries. Folk performances, handicrafts and snacks and fascinating times are the major attractions at temple fairs. Some of Beijing’s largest temple fairs are highlighted below.

• A ban on using fireworks in the capital during the Spring Festival was lifted in 2005, resulting in a colourful, miraculous roar throughout the city. This year, fireworks will be allowed on February 17 and 18 for whole day and night; from February 19 to March 4, fireworks are allowed between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. Safety is a high priority, and punishments will be meted to those who harm property or injure people.

• Since people stay up late during this special time of family reunions, awaiting the New Year, a tradition is called shouye. Some families will take a break from the fireworks at midnight to consume special New Year’s jiaozi; some will venture to temples to pray, while other family members may watch special, festival-oriented TV programmes. In addition, several new films are often released during the festival.



	Article featured in Beijing This Month, February 2007 Publication sponsored by Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Tourism